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Tag(s): 2008 Democratic Natl Conv; Biden-Joseph; Clinton Bill; Clinton-Hillary; Democratic; Kerry John; McCain-John; McCain-John; Media Attack Ads- Swiftboating; Obama-Barack; (more...) Obama-Barack; People Kennedy John F-; Presidential Campaign Democratic; Republican; Richard Nixon; Ronald Reagan; Senate (less...)
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August 27, 2008 at 11:10:40

Headlined on 8/27/08:
Why Are Senators Worried About Hurting John McCain's Feelings? To Heck With John McCain's Feelings

by Jonathan Leigh Solomon Page 1 of 1 page(s)

www.opednews.com

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I keep hearing that Democratic senators have to hold back on blasting John McCain because “they have to work with him.” I even hear it from some Democratic nattering-nabobs. What? Let John McCain worry about that. Which is preferable? Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama – among others – walk into the Senate chambers and feel bad because they’ve insulted McCain – or McCain walks into the Senate chambers and feels bad because he has been exposed as the pseudo-“Maverick,” out of touch, corrupt, lapsed idealist – to the extent that he ever was one in the first place, filthy rich, pseudo-regular guy, bellicose, dangerous, shortsighted, warmongering,… I’ll stop – I’m preaching to the converted.

But the Democrats aren’t.

Ratings win by “Deal or No Deal” aside – they are preaching to a big, confused, suckered audience of Americans who might vote for McCain.

Which brings up an even worse scenario than McCain getting his feelings hurt: He feels just fine and doesn’t have to worry about walking into the Senate chamber ever again except to cheers and back-slaps – when he gives the State of the Union.

Did the Republicans worry that John Kerry’s feelings would get hurt? I seem to remember more than a few Senators slamming him in New York in 2004 – not to mention that they never spoke up when he got swiftboated. And Kerry had to walk into the Senate chamber after the election and hold his head high. Be a grown-up. Let bygones be bygones. Are the Democrats afraid that because McCain has a legendary off-the-hook temper, he’ll clock them? You can bet the Republicans are going to go for the gusto next week in Minneapolis-Saint Paul. They’ll go after Obama for being elitist, they’ll go after Obama for not knowing foreign policy – when it is McCain who keeps adopting the Obama playbook, they’ll say he’s a Muslim – someone will, if only in code. I’ll stop. But maybe that’s the foul-up: the Democrats should have had their convention second so they’d be a little riled up.

Hillary got ½ way there. And, Barack shouldn’t go thoroughly negative. He says he’s running a positive campaign. And, to a great degree, he is. Good for him. Except, he’s mostly in a dead heat with all the other Democratic presidential candidates since John Kennedy faked the missile gap. Really, I’m scratching my head – when was the last time a Democrat got down in the mud? Oh yeah, that Dukakis guy. He was a regular Sonny Liston. And the thing is, the Democrats this time around have endless, endless, bad things to say about McCain if they’d only say them. George Sr. was a “wimp.” Ronald Reagan was the star of “Bedtime for Bonzo.” Jerry Ford fell down the stairs. Dick Nixon was well… Dick Nixon. But McCain tops all that. If only.. if only… this alone… because he’d continue the policies of George Jr. It’s like someone saying, “that Benito Hoover guy was a top-notch fellow!” I’ll stop. I’m preaching to the converted.

But the Democrats aren’t.

If Bill Clinton is right and Obama has “the political instincts of a Chicago thug,” let’s see it! Give these surrogate senators marching orders… “cut ‘em off at the pass” – “and while you are at it, cut ‘em off at the knees.”

And, PS: If anyone needs to get riled up, here’s some help.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFpL2N9K9qA.

Jonathan Leigh Solomon is a (retired) stand-up comedian who appeared regularly on "Late Night with David Letterman" and the "Late Show with David Letterman," co-hosted the MTV morning show, "Awake On the Wild Side," was the host of the late, great, sorely missed NBC children's program, "Kid's TV," and the star and co-creator of the not so greatly missed Fox sit-com "Bachelor Life." Among the television shows Jonathan has written for are Michael Moore's "TV Nation" and "Mad About You." In 2000, as a member of Vice-President Gore's press pool, he covered the presidential race for Politics.Com, filing his column "Solomon Wises to the Occasion" and appearing regularly as a featured guest on political talk-show programs offering fact-filled punditry. In his spare time, Jonathan continues his work as history's greatest political consultant. He wrote, "Our long national nightmare is over," for Gerald R. Ford. Prior to consulting with Jonathan, Ford had been planning to go with, "Wow, I'm president! Can you believe it?! Me! Gerry Ford! Wow!!! Now who do I gotta' pardon to keep this gig?"

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7 comments

I am a disabled man living in northern California who cares more about the future of our country than about party affiliation. I am distressed over the downward spiral in our social and political culture.
JOHN LORENZI am a disabled man living in northern California who cares more about the future of our country than about party affiliation. I am distressed over the downward spiral in our social and political culture.

Well Said!

I don't know why they'd be afraid to hurt McCain's feelings unless he has so much power on the commttees he sits on that they're afraid he won't send money their way if there is a crucial vote on something. But Kerry should be pretty powerful by now too, and so should some of the other senior Democrats and why they won't lay into McCain for his scurrilous behavior I don't know either. This is a good point. The Democrats seem to lose the White House all the time because they are too civil and too nice for the American public, which wrongly interprets being civilized as weakness. The Republicans are crooks and have no conscience, so down and dirty suits them just fine.

I didn't appreciate Hillary saying she was McCain's friend. That undercuts Obama and makes McCain seem like an OK guy. HIllary needs new friends if he is her friend.

Yeah, this doesn't make sense. McCain has no such compunction about slandering a fellow senator (Obama), so the Senate rules of 'courtesy' don't apply anymore since McNasty has pulled out all the stops and is even more hateful than George W. Bush was at the height of his and Rove's drity campaigning. I've never seen anything as dirty as what McCain is doing.

I don't know either why the public, which has to know by now that McCain has a lot of skeletons in his closet, why the public won't hold McCain's feet to the fire. Part of it is because the press and the media keep covering up for McCain and cowering in fear at the feet of Rush Limbaugh types who, if they get one scintilla of criticiem back just howl like Chimpanzees at a feces throwing fight.

I don't get it either, but it is wrong. This allows McCain a huge advantage. Let's see if McCain lights into Biden. I bet Biden knows things about McCain that nobody else knows. He's been there longer or as long as McHateful and I hope he (Biden) breaks the taboo on attacking McCain. I for one am sick of McCain pulling the POW card every time someone criticizes him. I don't even think he was THAT much of a war hero. Other people among fellow vets who were in the same place at the same time don't think he's that wonderful. Why has McCain been allowed this free pass on everything that he does? His horrible character, his associations (vast number of them: see my diary about all the crooks McCain is associated with)....his being a cad toward women...McCain is a NASTY man.

by JOHN LORENZ (17 articles, 89 quicklinks, 63 diaries, 211 comments) on Wednesday, August 27, 2008 at 1:45:18 PM

If I had to wear one of those t-shirts with a saying on it, I'd have "The road to hell is paved with Republicans."
Fred BogartIf I had to wear one of those t-shirts with a saying on it, I'd have "The road to hell is paved with Republicans."

Yup, absolutely...

Yeah, you stepped it up a notch. Cad, nasty, and the rest. I'd love it if someone brought out some secrets on this guy. But, he's not the type they'll go after. Like George Sr. - Had a mistress. No one said, "boo." But you are right, if McNasty is going to be nasty, then all bets are OFF!

by Fred Bogart (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 11 comments) on Wednesday, August 27, 2008 at 6:13:00 PM

i am a former teacher of 30 years with a history and political science major.I started getting politically active when Ronnie Regan ended my social security hopes for teahers
liberalsrocki am a former teacher of 30 years with a history and political science major.I started getting politically active when Ronnie Regan ended my social security hopes for teahers

McCain has made himself fair game

As the mud attacks continue Obama continues with this is not right here is the truth,the same as John Kerry and every other Democrat has done.Contray to what people say in interviews they like mud slingling and they listen to mud slingling attacks.Face it the American people are not that bright,they hear slurs on a persons character night after night they begin to believe it despite all the denials in the world.A rumor is hard to stop no matter how false it is.Its time the Democrats stop playing with one armed tied behind their backs and start some mud slinging of their own.How about John McCain is getting semile at his age,do we want a senile president,or john Mccain graduated at the bottom of his class ,do you want a stupid person leading this country.Karl rove is a slimeball but he knows what works.If you lie in bed with scoundrels you have to behave as scoundrels and by scoundrels i mean the political process.

by liberalsrock (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 126 comments) on Thursday, August 28, 2008 at 9:36:03 AM

Don'pigeon hole me or sterotype me
pratliff94Don'pigeon hole me or sterotype me

Why?

I think it is called appreciation for five years in a POW camp; it is called friendship of a fellow collegue of over thirty years; it is called respect toward a good and honest man. I think both Senator Biden and President Clinton said it very well. The argument is against the argument and not against the person.

I do agree that the Democrats lost both 2000 and 2004 because they refused to get mean over the arguments: one argument was character assassination of a war hero who was decorated with a Silver Star, two Bronze Stars and Three Purple Hearts while his opponet evaded the national draft.

Phil.

by pratliff94 (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 968 comments) on Thursday, August 28, 2008 at 10:31:07 AM

An activist.
Bill BressenAn activist.

the issues are the man

Okay, so he had a bad time 'Nam. (after bombing civilians) But the point is, everything the writer mentioned are directly connected to his positions. which goes back to the point - colleagues yes, but blameless no. And you have to point it out. No one is going to use the exact description the writers used, but that's the idea. And Biden still didn't do it. Maybe Gore tonight.

by Bill Bressen (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 6 comments) on Thursday, August 28, 2008 at 2:51:19 PM

An activist.
Bill BressenAn activist.

the issues are the man

by Bill Bressen (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 6 comments) on Thursday, August 28, 2008 at 2:51:37 PM

Writer and humanities educator based in the San Francisco Bay Area
Mark C. EadesWriter and humanities educator based in the San Francisco Bay Area

I couldn't agree more....

To hell with John McCain's feelings. This election is about a lot more than John McCain's feelings. Democrats need to take off the gloves and attack, now and in a sustained way until Election Day.

by Mark C. Eades (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 204 diaries, 3 comments) on Thursday, August 28, 2008 at 10:52:25 AM